Topsoil Calculator (Tons)
How much topsoil do you need? Enter your area and depth to get cubic yards, tons, and bags — topsoil is usually ordered by the ton.
Topsoil is one of the few materials commonly ordered by weight instead of volume, since screened topsoil runs a fairly predictable weight per yard and suppliers often price truckloads by the ton. This page works from tons: pick a weight and see the matching volume, or look up tons needed for a given area.
The conversion here uses 1.2 tons per cubic yard — the calculator's built-in estimate for screened, moderately moist topsoil. Wet or clay-heavy soil weighs more, so treat these as planning numbers and confirm with your supplier for a large order.
Enter a bulk price to estimate cost.
Add this to compare bulk delivery vs. buying bags.
You need
1.48≈ tons
- Cubic feet
- 33.3 cu ft
- Cubic yards
- 1.23 cu yd
- Bags (0.75 cu ft)
- 45 bags
- Bags (40 lb)
- 45 bags
- Weight
- ≈ 1.48 tons
Bulk is sold by the yard — order 1.25 cu yd to have enough.
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Tons to cubic yards and cubic feet
Working from weight back to volume, using the calculator's tons-per-yard estimate.
| Weight | Cubic yards | Cubic feet |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tons | 0.83 cu yd | 22.5 cu ft |
| 2 tons | 1.67 cu yd | 45 cu ft |
| 3 tons | 2.5 cu yd | 67.5 cu ft |
| 5 tons | 4.17 cu yd | 112.5 cu ft |
| 10 tons | 8.33 cu yd | 225 cu ft |
Tons needed by area
How much topsoil, by weight, a given area needs at the two most common lawn-prep depths.
| Area | at 4 in | at 6 in |
|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 1.48 tons | 2.22 tons |
| 200 sq ft | 2.96 tons | 4.44 tons |
| 300 sq ft | 4.44 tons | 6.67 tons |
| 500 sq ft | 7.41 tons | 11.11 tons |
| 1000 sq ft | 14.81 tons | 22.22 tons |
Bottom line: 6 inches takes 50% more topsoil by weight than 4 inches for the same area.
Tons to bags
If you're pricing bagged topsoil against a bulk ton order, here's the bag count each weight works out to.
| Weight | 0.75 cu ft bags | 1 cu ft bags |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tons | 30 bags | 23 bags |
| 2 tons | 60 bags | 45 bags |
| 3 tons | 90 bags | 68 bags |
| 5 tons | 151 bags | 113 bags |
| 10 tons | 301 bags | 226 bags |
How it's calculated
- 1
Measure the area
Enter length and width in feet, or type the total square footage.
- 2
Set the depth
New lawns usually need 4–6 inches; presets are 2, 4, and 6 inches.
- 3
Read tons and yards
We multiply cubic yards by ≈1.2 tons per yard (screened topsoil) so you can order in bulk, and also show bag counts.
Frequently asked questions
How many yards of topsoil do I need?
Multiply your area (sq ft) by the depth (inches) and divide by 324 — that's the same as area × depth ÷ 12 ÷ 27, just combined into one step. The calculator does this and rounds up to the nearest quarter yard so you don't come up short on delivery day. For a 500 sq ft area at 3 inches, that's 500 × 3 ÷ 324 ≈ 4.6 yards, rounded up to 4.75.
How much does a yard of topsoil weigh?
Screened topsoil runs roughly 2,000–2,200 lb (about 1–1.1 tons) per cubic yard dry, and the calculator uses 1.2 tons/yard to stay on the safe side, since wet or clay-heavy soil weighs noticeably more — sometimes 2,400+ lb per yard after rain. Ask your supplier for their actual weight per yard before ordering a large amount, since it affects delivery truck limits and cost if they price by the ton.
Topsoil vs garden soil vs fill dirt?
Topsoil is native soil that's been screened to remove rocks and debris — decent for filling and leveling, but usually low in organic matter on its own. Garden soil is topsoil blended with compost or other amendments specifically for planting, so it costs more but performs better in beds. Fill dirt is unscreened subsoil, the cheapest option, meant purely for grading and leveling under hardscape or where nothing needs to grow — it's often low in nutrients and can contain rocks or clay.
How deep should I lay topsoil for a new lawn?
4–6 inches is the standard range for a new lawn from seed or sod, enough to give roots room to establish. If you're topping off an existing lawn to fix low spots or thin turf, 0.5–1 inch worked in lightly is plenty — more than that can smother the existing grass.
How many cubic feet are in a 40 lb bag of topsoil?
A 40 lb bag of topsoil is sold as 0.75 cubic feet (40 ÷ 0.75 ≈ 53.3 lb per cubic foot) — that's the size on national brands like Timberline's 40 lb All-Purpose Top Soil. It takes 36 of those bags to equal one cubic yard. The calculator shows a live 40 lb bag count alongside cubic-foot bag sizes.
How far does 1 ton of topsoil cover?
At roughly 1.2 tons per cubic yard, 1 ton is about 0.83 cubic yards (22.5 cubic feet). Divide that by your depth in feet to get coverage: about 135 sq ft at 2 inches deep, or 45 sq ft at 6 inches deep. Actual coverage shifts with your supplier's exact density, so treat this as a planning estimate.
Can I mix bagged and bulk topsoil?
Yes — a common approach is ordering bulk for the bulk of the job and picking up a few bags to top off a gap or reach a spot the delivery truck can't access. Just keep the depth consistent across the area; mismatched fill can settle unevenly.